Introduction: It was just two short years ago the bass fishing market out West was abuzz in anticipation of Gary Dobyns's debut of his new, namesake rods and rod company. For fans of the famous Western Bass Touring Pro, the rods simply could not make it to market soon enough. When they finally did arrive in store racks, they were gone just as quick - like finding that magical bite on the lake. Turn your head for one moment, and boom, all gone.

To view the video
in high quality click on the video and go to You Tube and click on
"watch in high quality"

Gary Dobyns is back with a new generation of his sticks

That first run of rods was magical indeed and it looked like Dobyns Rods was on its way to many wins. Unfortunately, follow on shipments from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) were for some reason different. There began to build, an inordinate number of breakage reports and warranty claims, and what seemed like a magical ride soon became a warranty and rod replacement nightmare. Orders from the factory were halted, and Gary Dobyns found himself far behind square one with all his favorite spots played out. He was in need of a new game plan.

Shipments of his first generation sticks were plagued by breakage issues

It became quite clear the factory he had enlisted to build his first generation (g1) sticks could not respond to the quality control issues, so early in 2008, the search began for a new builder. This quest took Dobyns to unconventional sources in many different countries until finally, the right factory was found in Korea and a new partnership struck. TackleTour is proud to announce your exclusive first peak at Dobyns Rods Generation 2 (g2).

So Dobyns went started over and found a new factory in Korea to build his sticks

New Beginnings: In truth, most manufacturers go through periodic redesigns and enhancements. The only oddity here is Dobyns Rods has had to do this within their first two years of existence. But with that restart comes the opportunity to introduce improvements and enhancements that might otherwise take several more years to bring to the forefront if nothing else, for the sake of consistency.

Now, with the details worked out, the first shipment of rods is due to arrive before the end of January 2009

One of these changes is an adjustment to the lineup. Formerly offering a total of 52 rods, Dobyns has expanded the selection to 53, but he's also taken away some rods and introduced new ones. It is not a clean cut, wholesale reintroduction of product.

Dobyns Rods Champion Spinning Rods

Model #

Length

Line Rating (lbs)

Lure Rating (oz)

Power

Taper

MSRP

681SF

6'8"

4-10

1/8-3/8

Light

Fast

$219

682SF

6'8"

6-12

1/8-1/2

Med/Lt

Fast

$219

683SF

6'8"

8-17

3/16-5/8

Medium

Fast

$219

701SF

7'0"

4-10

1/8-3/8

Light

Fast

$229

702SF

7'0"

6-12

1/8-1/2

Med/Lt

Fast

$229

703SF

7'0"

8-17

3/16-5/8

Medium

Fast

$229

704SF

7'0"

10-20

1/4-1

Med/Hvy

Fast

$229

Dobyns Rods Champion Casting Rods

Model #

Length

Line Rating (lbs)

Lure Rating (oz)

Power

Taper

MSRP

682C

6'8"

8-14

3/16-5/8

Medium

Fast

$219

683C

6'8"

10-17

1/4-3/4

Med/Hvy

Fast

$219

684C

6'8"

10-20

1/4-1

Heavy

Fast

$219

702C

7'0"

8-14

3/16-5/8

Medium

Fast

$229

703C

7'0"

10-17

1/4-3/4

Med/Hvy

Fast

$229

704C

7'0"

10-20

1/4-1

Heavy

Fast

$229

705C

7'0"

12-25

3/8-1 1/2

MagHvy

Fast

$229

733CSH

7'3"

10-17

1/4-3/4

Med/Hvy

Fast

$239

733CFH

7'3"

10-17

1/4-3/4

Med/Hvy

Fast

$239

734CSH

7'3"

10-20

1/4-1

Heavy

Fast

$239

734CFH

7'3"

10-20

1/4-1

Heavy

Fast

$239

735C

7'3"

12-25

3/8-1 1/2

MedHvy

XFast

$239

736C

7'3"

15-30

3/8-2

Hvy

XFast

$239

763C

7'6"

8-17

1/4-1

Med/Hvy

Fast

$239

764C

7'6"

12-25

1/4-1 1/2

Hvy

Fast

$239

Of particular note are the new 7'4" and 7'8" spinning sticks in the Champion Extreme Series. Also new is a 7'8" jig stick in the Mike Long Signature Series of rods. Then there is the new signature series 805CB RM crankbait stick, a tweaked version of the original 805CB but customized to the liking of Western crankbait guru Randy McAbee.

Dobyns Rods Champion Cranking Rods

Model #

Length

Line Rating (lbs)

Lure Rating (oz)

Power

Taper

MSRP

704CB Glass

7'0"

8-17

1/4-3/4

Medium

Fast

$199

705CB Glass

7'0"

8-20

1/4-1

Med/Hvy

Fast

$199

705CBMF Glass

7'0"

8-20

1/4-1

Med/Hvy

Mod/Fast

$199

684CB

6'8"

8-17

1/4-3/4

Medium

Mod/Fast

$219

685CB

6'8"

10-20

1/4-1 1/4

Med/Hvy

Mod/Fast

$219

704CB

7'0"

8-14

1/4-3/4

Medium

Mod/Fast

$229

705CB

7'0"

8-17

1/4-1

Med/Hvy

Mod/Fast

$229

804CB

8'0"

8-17

1/4-1

Med/Hvy

Mod/Fast

$239

805CB

8'0"

10-20

3/8-1 1/2

Med/Hvy

Fast

$239

In the area of components, the Champion Series now features full blown SiC guides with stainless steel frames from Korean Manufacturer Kigan. Apparently very well known in the Asian market, Kigan has been making high quality guides for quite some time. Similarly, the Champion Extreme rods now feature titanium coated, Zirchonium insert guides. All the "Finesse" series sticks in both lines feature a new hook hangar designed by Gary Dobyns himself to hold a drop shot weight easily, yet not get in the way of your line while fishing.

Dobyns Rods Champion Flipping & Swimbait Rods

Model #

Length

Line Rating (lbs)

Lure Rating (oz)

Power

Taper

MSRP

765FLIP

7'6"

12-25

1/4-1 1/2

Med/Hvy

Fast

$239

766FLIP

7'6"

14-30

1/4-2

Heavy

Fast

$239

805FLIP/ PUNCH

8'0"

15-30

3/8-2

Heavy

Fast

$239

795MLSB

7'9"

15-30

1-5

Med/Hvy

Fast

$239

795SBMT

7'9"

15-30

1-5

Med/Hvy

Fast

$239

806MLSB

8'0"

20-40

2-8

Heavy

Fast

$239

806HSB

8'0"

20-40

2-8

Heavy

Fast

$239

807MAGHSB

8'0"

20-50

3-10

Mag/Hvy

Fast

$239

Fans of the Dobyns Rods's swimbait series will be happy to know very little has changed in these rods, and Dobyns assures us his new factory has been able to reproduce that buttery smooth casting feel in all his rods, but in the swimbait rods especially. In fact, Dobyns feels the new versions cast even better.

The Generation 2 version of the 806ML

A stick that just barely made it into the first generation run is certainly here in Gen 2. Introducing the 795SBMT (SwimBait MagTopwater)